Adjustable sofa bed having shiftable front board



1950 1.. POKORNY ET AL 2,505,989

ADJUSTABLE SOFA BED HAVING SHIF'TABLE FRONTBOARD Filed Sept. 17, 1948 2 Sheets-$heet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTORS LOUIS POKORNY & LQUIS POKORNY JR.

f6 55 5/ i j i A ORNE y 1950 L. POKORNY El AL 2,505,989

ADJUSTABLE sow. BED HAVING SHIFTABLE FRONTBOARD Filed Sept. 17, 1948 2 Sheets$heet 2:

' INVENTORS LOUIS PO KO RNY & LOUIS PO KORNY JR Q ORNEY Patented May 2, 195% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SOFA BED HAVmG SHIFTABLE FRONT BOARD Louis Pokorny and Louis Pokorny, Jr., Ronkonkoma, N. Y

4 Claims.

Our present invention relates generally to articles of furniture and has particular reference to an adjustable structure which in its closed position forms a sofa and which may be adjusted into an open position in which it defines a bed. A structure of this kind is illustrated and described in our patent, No. 2,445,241, issued July 13, 1948.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for adjusting the frontboard of the device during the transformation of the structure from a sofa to a bed. Devices of this general type usually have a frontboard extending across the front of the sofa and provided with a padded upper edge. In the closed condition of the device, the top surface of this pad is substantially flush with the uppermost part of the folded bed spring, so that a level support is afforded for the seat cushions of the sofa. However, in the open condition of the device, the upper ,edge of the frontboard is likely to present an uncomfortable obstacle to a person reclining on the bed, and it is therefore necessary to move the frontbcard during the opening of the device.

In accordance with the present invention, the frontboard is shifted automatically from a raised to a lowered position as the frame is adjusted from a folded, sofa position to an unfolded, bed position. The shifting of the frontboard is accomplished by a mechanism which is automatically actuated as the frame is folded and unfolded; and the movement of the frontboard is one which shifts the board through a relatively short distance and maintains it, at both extremes of its movement, in a vertically-dim posed bracing relation to the middle legs of the structure.

One way of achieving the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, is shown in the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view through the device in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional View of only certain sections of the frame, this figure showing an intermediate stage in opening the device from its closed position (Fig. l)

Fig. 3 is likewise a sectional view, but showing the sections of Fig. 2 when the device is fully opened to define a bed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, at a point just in front of the frontboard; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Before entering upon a description of the present invention, the device as a whole will be briefly described. The device is shown in Fig. 1 in its closed position defining a sofa represented in dot-and-dash lines, having a back 9. When fully open (see Fig. 3 and also Fig. 5 of our earlier patent), the device defines a bed, the frame of which is made up of four sections. When the frame is in closed position, as in Fig. 1, these four sections assume dispositions different from their horizontal dispositions when opened out to form the bed; for facility in terminology, the four sections will be given descriptive appellations based upon their respective dispositions in closed position, Fig. 1. Thus, section IE, which is nearest the back 9 of the sofa and is vertical, will be referred to as the rear vertical section; section 20 which is horizontal and lower (compared with section M], which is also horizontal) will be referred to as the lower horizontal section; section MI will be termed the upper horizontal section; and section 30, which is vertical (like section It) but which is at the front of the sofa, will be referred to as the front vertical section.

The three sections 20, and so are straightline members, while rear vertical section Ill is angular, having an arm l5 pivotally articulated at iii to a short vertical bar 6 secured to the frame of the sofa. The lower end of rear vertical section H3 is articulated, at l2, to the rear end of the lower horizontal section 29. The forward end of section 20 is articulated, at 23, to the lower end of front vertical section 30, the upper end of which is articulated, at 34, to the front end of upper horizontal section 40.

The parts ll], 29, 38, have been spoken of as sections rather than mere members because each section H3, 20, 3| 40 has a companion part or member at the respective right and left ends of the sofa. The particular sections I0, 29, 30, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 represent only the companion parts at one end of the sofa (the left end as viewed in Fig. 4). The corresponding parts of the sections at the opposite end of the sofa are not shown except in Fig. 4 where the second part of section 30 is designated 30'. The elements forming the sections It, 2t), 30, 4B are angle irons, as indicated most clearly at 39 a d 38' in Fig. l.

The device includes a pair of middle legs, one associated with each set of members at the left and right of the sofa. The leg associated with sofa.

3 members i0, 20, 3D, 40 is designated 50. In Fig. 4, the corresponding leg at the opposite end of the sofa is designated 50'.

Middle leg 5!! is a plate or casting of somewhat irregular shape and is articulated at its upper portion, at 35, to a short arm 33 rigidly secured to section 39 and projecting from .it. The corresponding leg 50' is articulated at. to :arm 33' of companion section 38'. A frontboard 5| extends across the sofa and is articulated to the middle legs 50, in a manner presently to be described.

The device is opened by lifting the frontboard 5! and pulling it upwardly and .away from the about fixed pivot I6 and brings about a raising of the lower horizontal section 20 (and also the other sections 39 and 40 and middle .leg .553). (The relationship of the parts in this first stage is best shown .in Fig. 3 of .our earlier patent.) This raising of section 2% ;is assistedby-anelevatorparm 2.2,. pivoted tosection 20...at. 2-,iand provided with .ajshort lever .arm 26 whose free end is secured to an elevator tensile. spring 2.

Thedeviceis then ,iiirther opened by tuning front vertical section 310 about the pivotal connection 23 from the vertical position of .381, Fig.

1, to its horizontal position, Fig.12,.in alignment with lower horizontal section 26; -and by turning upper horizontal section A'Uthroughiilfi to bring it from the sofa position of fig. 1. through the intermediate position of Fig. .2 to, the bed position of Fig. 3.

.In the closed condition .of the ldevicaFigll, the middle leg .55 is parallel and .close etc-the front verticalsection ..3.U,,.and..lies' between this section and the frontboard .51. In the fully open condition .of the ,device,.Eig. 3,,the middle leg 59 is perpendicular to front. vertical section 36, the leg having been turned .90 relative to section 30 about its pivotal .connection 35. This .90 turning of leg .59 is..automaticallyachieved by means of three member-s28, A8, 58, two. of

which (28 and ltlconsti-tute togglelinks articulated together at 24. Toggle link. 28 is the rear toggle link and is -pivotally connected, at .29, to section 2c. The front toggle link .48 is articulated at 59 to the section id. The member 58 is an actuating member or .lever, pivotally connected to rear toggle 28 at :51and pivotedat 59 to middle leg. 50. .As the frame .as a whole isunfolded, toggle links 28,48 open up, and

-member, 58 causes the leg to turn relative to front vertical section 38.

In the unfolded condition ofthe framathe section 56, Fig. 3, is supported by..-a frontleg 43 pivotally connected to it. atAZ andactuatecl by .a linlr as.

Thedevice hasa bed spring i, Fig.4, which is secured at its edgesto the sections idle, 48. In Fig. ethe spring l is shown connected to the elements 35, iiil'by means of tensile sprin s 3. ,A cross-bar ll ma y be spanned between the This causes a turning of rear section Id.

left and iiight-setsoi the sections, asshown in Fig.4, and in .orderthat. the cross iecefi will ,not present an objectionable abutment to a body reposed on the bed spring i, it is offset downwardly, as at i3, l8. 7

nected to these flanges.

recess extends downwardly from the upper edge of the frontboard 5i and extends for almost the full length of the frontboard.

In the closed position of the sofa, Fig. 1, the padding 53 presents a support, at the front of the sofa, for the seat pillows 5 and the weight of a person seated thereon. It will be noted that the top surface of padding 53 is substantially flush with the horizontal legs of the angle irons constituting the upper horizontal section 40, 4B, and with the bed spring which is con- When the device is opened out to form a bed, Fig. 3, the frontboard 5| is shifted to a lower position where its upper edge will offer no obstacle to a body reposed on the bed spring. This is shown most clearly in -Fig. 4, in which it will be noted that the padding .unique fashion whichhas numerous advantages. The board is shifted enclwise, i. e.,' parallelto itself, through a relatively short distance; it is maintained in parallel abutment with the legs 5t, 50' in each of its raised and lowered posithese brackets aredesignated 54b. The member 5% is a lever whose fulcrum is .at 59 and-whose short arm 55 -isJp'ivotally connected at 55, to thefiange' 54b of angle 54. Short arm 56 is thus a short extension of actuating member 58 projecting forwardly into pivoted engagementw-ith the .frontboard 5|. A second arm 66 of the same length as arm 56 is pivotally mountedat 69 to middle leg 50 and articulated to angle bracket 54 at 65. Arms 55, 66 constitute a parallel-link motion, which serve to raise and lower frontboard 5| relative to thepm'iddle .legs '50, 50', .as follows: In the closedcondition of the device (Fig. 1') rear toggle link 28 is inclined rearwardly '(leftwardly in said figure), pulling member 58 in that direction, thus forcing arm 56 upwardly. This upward movement of arm. 56, and of its parallel companion .arm 55, maintains the frontboard 5! in its raised position, in firm contact with the legs 50, 5e. As the device is opened to form a bed (Figs. 2 and 3) lever 58 turns relative to the leg 50, thus lowering its short arm 56. The lowering of short arm 56, and of its parallel companion arm 66, moves the fr-ontboard 5| to its lowered position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, again in firm contact-.withthe legs 50, 50. The frontboard is thus effective to .brace the pair of middle legs in boththeclos'edatrid the open positions.

The frontboard 5i. iscovered with a piece of upholsteryfabrlc. II which also extends over the top of pad 53. .Atil this .fabricisstitched or otherwise secured to an. extension 7 (which may be of less expensive material). This extension secured to cross-member 4! of upper horizontal section 45 by. means of springs 8. In the. closed position of the frame, theextension I overlies the section 40 and the bed spring; while in the open position of the frame, the fabric! assumes the position shown in Fig. 3.

The connection of the fabric 1 directly to the skilled in the art may readily make changes in the details herein described and illustrated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sofa-bed, a frame foldable to define a sofa and unfoldable to define a bed, said frame comprising companion members at each side constituting sections, said sections includin an upper horizontal section which defines the seat of the sofa when the frame is folded and a front vertical section which swings to a horizontal position when the frame is unfolded, a frontboard having a padded upper edge substantially aligned with said upper horizontal section when the frame is folded, an upholstery covering on said frontboard and over said padding, means for moving said frontboard to a lowered vertical position be neath said front vertical section when the frame is unfolded, and an extension on said upholstery whose free end is secured to the free end of said upper horizontal section, said extension overlying said upper horizontal section when the frame is folded and underlying said section when the frame is unfolded.

2. In a sofa-bed, a frame foldable to define a sofa and unfoldable to define a bed, said frame comprising companion members at each side constituting sections, one of said sections being a front vertical section which swings to a horizontal position when the frame is unfolded, a frontboard, and means for moving said frontboard between a raised vertical position in front of said section when the frame is folded and a lowered vertical position beneath said section when the frame is unfolded, said means including a leg pivoted to said section and lying between said section and said frontboard when the frame is folded, and an actuating member pivoted to said leg and having a short extension projecting forwardly from said leg and pivoted to said frontboard.

3. In a sofa-bed, a frame foldable to define a sofa and unfoldable to define a bed, said frame comprising companion members at each side constituting sections, one of said sections being a front vertical section which swings to a horizontal position when the frame is unfolded, a frontboard, and means for moving said frontboard between a raised vertical position in front of said section when the frame is folded and a lowered vertical position beneath said section when the frame is unfolded, said means comprising a leg pivoted to said section and lying between said section and said frontboard when the frame is folded, an actuating member pivoted to said leg and having a short extension projecting forwardly from said leg and pivoted to said frontboard, and a link parallel to said extension and pivoted to the leg at one end and to the frontboard at the other.

4. In a sofa-bed, a frame foldable to define a sofa and unfoldable to define a bed, said frame comprising companion members at each side constituting pivotally connected sections, said. sections including a lower horizontal section, an upper horizontal section, and a front vertical section which swings to a horizontal position when the frame is unfolded, a frontboard, and means for moving said frontboard between a raised vertical position in front of said front vertical section when the frame is folded and a lowered vertical position beneath said section when the frame is unfolded, said means comprising a leg pivoted to said front vertical section, a pair of toggle links between said lower and upper horizontal sections, said toggle links opening up when the frame is unfolded, a leg-turning member pivoted at its rear end to one of said toggle links and near its forward end to said leg, said member having a short forward extension pivoted to said frontboard, and a link parallel to said extension and pivoted to the leg at one end and to the frontboard at the other.

LOUIS POKORNY. LOUIS POKORNY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 14,190 Weinmann Sept. 5, 1916 1,078,908 Fischrupp Nov. 18, 1913 1,216,627 Tauber Feb. 20, 1917 1,295,840 Bartlett Mar. 4, 1919 2,407,864 Arzt Sept. 17, 1946 2,445,241 Pokorny et a1 July 13, 1948 

